Overview

The Charger may look the same as it did two years ago, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t changed. Dodge stays busy and keeps improving the big sedan. It upgraded the Charger last year by resurrecting the SRT8 moniker and making its new eight-speed automatic transmission available in some V-6-powered Charger models. For 2013, changes are slight but present nonetheless. The still-fresh SRT8 model now comes standard with three-mode adaptive dampers and launch control. SXT and SXT Plus models with the Rallye Appearance Group or Blacktop Package get cold air intakes and exhaust systems that raise power output to 300 hp, eight more horses than the standard V-6 has. Those cars will be equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission as well as an upgraded stereo system that’s new for this year; an eight-inch subwoofer in the trunk packs the punch in the “Beats by Dr. Dre” ten-speaker system. The Charger is a vehicle that makes a statement both visually and dynamically. With a slew of new options added to an already long list of available options, good efficiency, great power, and a whole lot of emotion, this sedan should appeal across a broad spectrum of car buyers.

Safety

Front, knee, side, and side curtain air bags; ABS; traction and stability control; and a tire-pressure monitoring system are standard.

All-wheel-drive models of the 2013 Dodge Charger receive a little more horsepower and style thanks to the release of the new AWD Sport trim package. Largely mirroring the Blacktop treatment applied to rear-wheel-drive cars, Dodge CEO Reid Bigland said in a statement the AWD Sport package "delivers a similar aggressive look with the added capability of all-wheel drive."
The rear-wheel-drive Dodge Charger is already offered with the Blacktop package, which adds goodies like black wheels, a black crosshairs front grille, and black wheels to the American sedan. Dodge claims 25 percent of Charger buyers ordered the Blacktop option; we even selected it on our Four Seasons 2012 Dodge Charger SXT. Dodge also created similar packages for the Avenger sedan and Challenger coupe, and has now expanded availability again to all-wheel-drive Chargers.
The AWD Sport treatment begins with a gloss-black crosshair front grille, gloss-black 19-inch wheels, and a trunklid wing. Interior upgrades include sport seats optionally finished in red Nappa leather, and a Beats Audio sound system with a 12-channel amplifier and upgraded speakers.
The biggest news, however, is under the hood. As in Blacktop models, the 3.6-liter V-6 engine in SXT and SXT Plus models gains a cold-air intake and sportier exhaust. Power jumps from 292 hp to 300 hp, while torque climbs from 260 lb-ft to 264 lb-ft. (That performance boost makes the Dodge Charger one of the cheapest 300-hp cars in the nation.) The 5.7-liter V-8 in all-wheel-drive R/T and R/T Plus Chargers, meanwhile, is unchanged at 370 hp and 395 lb-ft. All versions also receive paddle shifters for the automatic transmission -- a first for the all-wheel-drive Dodge Charger.
The bottom line is that the AWD Sport upgrade adds a little more style and performance for buyers who want or need four driven wheels. The package costs $1395 on SXT and SXT Plus trim levels, and $1195 on R/T and R/T Plus models. As a result, a 2013 Dodge Charger SXT AWD Sport costs $33,685 (after a $995 destination charge), an SXT Plus AWD Sport is $35,685, an R/T AWD Sport is $34,685, and an R/T Plus AWD Sport costs $36,685.
Dealers are taking orders for the Dodge Charger AWD Sport now, and the cars should reach dealerships in early 2013.
Source: Dodge

Once upon a time, the Charger Daytona was Dodge’s way of homologating a wild aerodynamic package for use in stock car racing. These days, the name is little more than a means for Dodge to spice up its large sedan. Case in point: the new 2013 Charger Daytona, which officially debuts later this month at the 2012 Los Angeles auto show.

Since SRT was spun off into its own brand, Chrysler's performance arm has been working on building up its image and reminding people that the Street and Racing Technology vehicles are about more than just high horsepower. According to this new video, SRT vehicles represent "the pinnacle of Chrysler performance".

Because the newest crop of cop cars weren't menacing enough, Ford and Dodge have seen fit to upgrade their offerings for 2013. Ford has added another engine option to its Taurus-based Police Interceptor, while Dodge has given the fuzz the right to order all-wheel drive on the Charger Pursuit.

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